Activities for Kids: Join the Cardboard Challenge on October 6

I ran after-school and summer programs for 14 years. The after-school program I ran started in my apartment. I lived in an apartment complex in a low-income community. When I got home from work, kids would come over and hang out. I knew some of the kids struggled with basic reading, writing, and math skills. Yet at my house, they flourished. I didn't do much traditional learning. Instead, I provided writing tools, computer programs, and educational toys. We spent time together.

After spending time with the kids, I felt the need to go back to school. I wanted to be able to teach some of them how to read. I never did figure out the "silver bullet" of teaching kids how to read. What I did figure out, though, was that the experiential learning that I was already doing was providing a strong foundation for kids. It wasn't the foundation of literacy and direct learning. It was the foundation that provided social skills, knowledge, and an educated voice for them to converse with others. Seventeen years later, many of those kids are either in or graduated from college.

Watch the video above. Around the 5:50 mark is one of my favorite quotes: "The idea is not only to give the kids the tools to build the things that they can imagine, but to also imagine the world that they can build."

You have the opportunity to inspire that creativity as well. On October 6 people all over the world will come together to have their own cardboard challenges. So far there's only one in the Dallas area. It's in Plano on October 6 at 2:00. You can join it by going here to RSVP...or register to have your own neighborhood event at www.cardboardchallenge.com. Unfortunately I will be out of town that weekend or I would host my own. Since I can't, I would love to see photos and videos of what you end up doing with your kids in your neighborhood. Share them on our Facebook page and/or leave comments here.

Believography seeks to inspire children's talents and interests by providing themed parties for kids. To learn more go to www.believography.com. WARNING: Having fun and learning are inevitable.